2013 Season Recap with Coach Gill: Defense

LibertyFlames.com continues a three-part series looking back on the 2013 football season with head coach Turner Gill. During today's video session, Liberty Flames Sports Network reporter Alan York and Gill review the Flames' defense.

The Flames once again had a stout defense, finishing their season ranked No. 9 in total defense (313.9 total offensive yards allowed per game). Liberty held eight of its 12 opponents to less than 20 points score and ranked No. 7 in the country in scoring defense (17.6 points per game allowed).

A point of emphasis for the Flames coming into the season was to force more turnovers. Liberty finished its season +11 in the turnover battle and ranked No. 3 in the country in turnover margin (+1.3). Liberty also ranked No. 18 in turnovers gained (26) and tied for No. 1 in the country in turnovers lost (11).

A majority of Liberty's turnovers came via interceptions, as the Flames recorded 19 picks, which ranked tied for No. 2 in the country. Hagen led the Flames with six interceptions and individually ranked No. 7 in the country in interceptions.

Liberty's tackle leaders on the year were Sigmon and Aikens, who both finished the season with 62 stops. Sigmon evenly spread his tackles out with 30 solo stops and 32 assisted tackles, while more than 80 percent of Aikens' tackles were solo stops (50 solo, 12 assisted).